NS - Grant - Application to NCACC for Employee Wellness Program Funding

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With the new opportunities for employee wellness provided by Healthy Carolinians and EHP Blue, representatives from the Personnel Department and Health Department formed a work group and began working with EHP Blue to assess the needs and develop a wellness program for Orange County employees. To assist in this, a student from the UNC School of Public Health gathered and analyzed data that includes a County vending machine survey, an employee interest survey, an environmental scan of six major County work sites, and interviews with department heads. The group also reviewed the aggregate Blue Cross claims analysis.of employees from 2003 and compiled a listing of existing health and wellness programs being offered through the County. The County's Employee Relations Consortium made up of representatives from the County departments also has been involved in providing feedback to the work group. After this assessment and analysis, the Personnel, Health and EHP Blue work group developed the Attachment 1 mission statement and accompanying set of goals, objectives and strategies to guide the first year of implementation. The Personnel Department has identified a small amount of funding (up to $5,000) that could be made available to the program and the Health Department has committed existing staff resources to coordinate the program. Various other County departments also will contribute their expertise in different areas of the program. The County will have available the materials and programs offered by Blue Cross through its Blue Care Plan. The Attachment 2 grant application to the NC Association of County Commissioners will provide enhanced funding to generate interest and commitment to the program in its first year. Specifically the grant will provide funding for health risk assessments, health screenings, employee communications and participation incentives. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The grant request is for $18,445 to support the initiation of the employee wellness program in 2005-06. Depending on the first year experience, ongoing County costs may include health risk assessments at regular intervals and associated costs for screenings for the health risk assessment (estimated at $12,000). The programming will come from existing resources through the County and EHP Blue. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board endorse the application to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners for the Employee Wellness Program grant application. .!'